Al fresco international jazz returns to the UK

In an age of concert-series-as-jazz-festivals, the Love Supreme festival near the South Downs in 2013 looks set to remind us of the best international outdoor events of the 1980s and before

Tickets for the first Love Supreme Jazz Festival, to be held at Glynde Place, near Brighton and the South Downs from 5-7 July next year, are now on sale. One-site international open-air jazz festivals have been rare in the UK the past two decades or more, and there are hopes that Love Supreme will capture the spirit and atmosphere of the best green-field summer jazz festivals, whose history in the UK goes back at least to the 1956 Beaulieu event and memorably includes the comprehensive, star-studded Bracknell and Capital Radio events of the 1980s.

Organised by radio station Jazz FM, the festival is to include appearances by former Miles Davis and David Sanborn bassist and composer Marcus Miller, saxophonist Branford Marsalis and his quartet, the Neil Cowley Trio, alto saxophonist Soweto Kinch and London-based singer Zara McFarlane.

Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra promise a party-style close to the festival on Sunday 7 July. Jools is joined by vocalists Ruby Turner and Louise Marshall, with a special guest to be announced. More acts are to be announced over the next few months.

The festival will take place on four stages in the Sussex countryside: the main stage, a green-field floored and seated stage, a "Discovery" stage and a dance stage. Unlike some other jazz festivals, however, one ticket gives entry to all four stages over all three days.

Festival director, Ciro Romano, said: "We are thrilled that the passionate combination of Jazz FM, Ingenious, Serious and ourselves will bring back the green-field jazz festival after such a long break."

There will also be international and local cuisine on offer, luxury and standard camping, "chill-out zones", and family-friendly activities. Kids under 5 go free, and a day ticket for an adult starts at £50. Visit Love Supreme Jazz Festival online to find out more and buy tickets.

Update: Added to the bill in late December 2012: Robert Glasper Experiment, Andreya Triana and Snarky Puppy.

Sally Evans-Darby

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